title: [Fatal colchicine poisoning--case report and review of literature].
abstract: Colchicine is a natural pseudo-alkaloid found in plants such as the autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) and glory lily (Gloriosa superba), which is used to treat gout and some other rheumatological disease. Colchicine binds to tubuline and prevents its polymerization into microtubules. It is thus able to impair those cellular functions that involve microtubules, eg. it arrests mitosis in metaphase. Tissues with high mitotic activity are preferentially affected. We report suicidal colchicine poisoning leading to death after 61 hours. Clinical course was typical for colchicine action. We observed severe diarrhea, cardiovascular shock, ARDS, multiorgan system failure and DIC. Postmortem toxicological studies confirm colchicine poisoning.
authors.affiliation: Instytut Medycyny Pracy i Zdrowia, Srodowiskowego w Sosnowcu, Oddział Toksykologii Klinicznej z Regionalnym, Ośrodkiem Ostrych Zatruć. m.kicka@imp.sosnowiec.pl
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kicka
authors.forename: Zofia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Olszowy
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jankowski
authors.forename: Rafał
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Celiński
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kłopotowski
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bazylewicz
authors.forename: Łukasz
authors.initials: Ł
authors.lastname: Miśkiewicz
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Picheta
mesh_terms: D003078:Colchicine / Q000506:poisoning*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis; D013405:Suicide
chemical_list: D003078:Colchicine